Top 5 Day Trips in Bora Bora

When you travel to Bora Bora, in The Islands of Tahiti, you travel for leisure. You go to put your feet up on white-sand beaches, sip refreshing cocktails, and enjoy a paradise island. Whether you’re honeymooning with your special someone or enjoying a family vacation to escape a chilly winter, your main purpose for a The Islands of Tahiti vacation is relaxation and fun. But in the midst of all the beachside idylls and swims in crystal waters, you might want to shake up the routine with a catamaran ride or dive to see the exotic sea life. That’s why day trips are so ideal when visiting a place like Bora Bora. You’re not locked in to any multi-day arrangements and are still free to relax and take your vacation day-by-day. The following are five of the best options for day trips on a Bora Bora vacation. Take them as suggestions to spice up your once-in-a-lifetime stay on this exotic island.

Dive for Cultural Pearls like a Tahitian

French Polynesia’s economy thrives off two industries: tourism and Tahitian cultural pearls. French Polynesia became known for its exceptional pearls in the late 19th century and the popularity of pearls depleted much of the oyster population by the mid-20th century. Understanding that the continuation of overfishing would mean certain ecological devastation, the French Polynesian government enlisted a Japanese pearl oyster technician to help them develop the first French Polynesian pearl farm. In 1965, the government harvested 1,000 pearls, proving the experiment a success. Since that time, all pearl production has been done on farms, as it’s too costly and damaging to the environment to rely on wild oysters for pearls. In fact, if you think you’ll find a pearl by randomly searching oysters, think again. Only around one in 15,000 oysters have a pearl in the wild. You have a greater chance of winning an Oscar than of finding a pearl within one randomly selected oyster on the ocean floor. Luckily, you don’t have to randomly search the ocean floor to find a pearl. Instead, you can take an excursion to a pearl oyster farm and dive for pearls like a local craftsperson would. Don’t worry about reading up on pearl farming and extraction prior to your The Islands of Tahiti vacation. The farm workers will explain pearl farming and production to you, so you’ll be well equipped to dive beneath the waves and find a line of oysters just right for pearls. After learning about pearl farming and diving to collect oysters from a farm line, you’ll be allowed to pry open a chosen oyster and collect a pearl to take home as a souvenir. Cultural pearls are extremely important to Tahitians so this excursion gives you a glimpse into one of their most valued practices. It also gifts you with one of the most exquisite items you could ask for.

Enjoy a Romantic Sunset Cruise and Dinner

If you visit Bora Bora, there’s a good chance you’ll be traveling with your special someone. Whether spouses or long-term partners or even just new paramours, Bora Bora attracts couples of all kinds. It’s no accident that Bora Bora is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations on the planet. People wanting to enjoy the bliss of their recent marriage seek out Earth’s closest approximation of heavenly paradise. Bora Bora crosses off all the fantasy checklists of an ideal romantic The Islands of Tahiti vacation. The island boasts white-sand beaches, crystal blue waters, and warm weather all year round. A visit to Bora Bora during a honeymoon or other romantic getaway turns the island into a hallowed destination forever enshrining your love. It ignites you and your partner’s passion and is a perfect environment to make new memories and deepen your relationship. All the while, you’ll also be enjoying one of the world’s foremost tropical destinations. If you are traveling with a partner, a romantic dinner with a great view is a must. A sunset cruise and dinner option takes you out on an outrigger canoe where you can sip champagne while you cruise around the beautiful lagoon. You'll then be taken to St James, a gourmet restaurant, where you’re served a traditional Tahitian dinner by candlelight. If you’re looking for a picture-perfect evening, you can’t do better than this.

Get the Blood Pumping on a Jet Ski and ATV Adventure

If you need something to shake up a full week of being a beach bum, on your The Islands of Tahiti vacation, consider an exciting counterpoint to your relaxation. The beaches might make Bora Bora famous but the island and its surrounding waters are good for more than just leisure. The island is perfect for a little adventure and adrenaline. Jet skiing across the lagoon is a good way to get the heart pumping before spending your evening lounging beachside. Experience a thrilling tour that lets you ride a jet ski across the lagoon and then an ATV up the hills of the island. If you’ve never ridden either machine before, you’ll have time to acquaint yourself with both before departing on your excursions. First, you’ll mount your own jet ski and get familiar in the shallow lagoon. It’s a safe environment to get comfortable with the machine and master the art of turning at high speed. Your guide will take you around the lagoon, showing off some of the aquatic highlights and motus that dot the waters. You’ll then return to land and mount an ATV for a trek up the hills on the mainland. The excursion takes you past World War II bunkers and offers up amazing views of Mount Otemanu and Povai. This day trip is a great way to combine some land and sea thrills during your Bora Bora vacation.

Search for Humpback Whales from July to October

If you’re lucky enough to visit Bora Bora between July and October, you’ll be able to take a morning to see the humpback whales that migrate through the region each year. Humpback whales migrate each year in order to find food and breed. The specific humpback whales in the South Pacific head to Antarctic waters in the summer months to feed on the krill that call the waters their home. When the weather grows colder, they head towards the equator to breed and rear their calves. Humpback whales have been known to live in the waters near Bora Bora as their calves grow stronger and even enter the lagoon for protection from the sharks that feed off the tuna schools to the east. If in Bora Bora between July and October, you can spend a morning whale watching and listening to the songs of these ocean giants. Depending on weather and the mammals’ behaviour, you might even be lucky enough to swim in the water and snorkel a short distance from the whales.

Photograph Blacktip Sharks and Stingrays on a Water Safari

The lagoon of Bora Bora is home to all manner of fish, including the more exotic sights of sharks and stingrays. It’s essential that you explore the lagoon on your The Islands of Tahiti vacation. The ultimate option is a water safari out on the lagoon swimming with stingrays and blacktip sharks. Despite their reputations, blacktip sharks and stingrays are not aggressive animals and they’re safe to swim alongside, so long as you avoid physical contact and don’t tempt them with food or blood. On this safari, you’ll take an outrigger canoe to three stops, including coral gardens where you'll snorkel down into the waves to view the stingrays and other abundant sea life. You’ll also have the rare opportunity to swim alongside a black tip shark. Be sure to pack an underwater camera as you won’t want to miss the opportunity to take photos of this amazing underwater experience. It’s sure to make all your friends and admirers on social media jealous.

These day trips are five of many great options for excursions and cultural experiences in Bora Bora while in The Islands of Tahiti, guaranteeing the ultimate in relaxation and luxury. These brief day trips promise to add variety to your leisurely stay and will make your once-in-a-lifetime tropical vacation even better.